After numerous layoffs by Swiss companies and organisations throughout 2025 – and some expected next year as well – will the country’s job market recover in 2026?
Hundreds of people in Switzerland have lost their jobs in 2025 – a trend that, to some degree, will spill over into next year as well.
That’s because various employers are facing financial difficulties or are planning to restructure and/or relocate their operations abroad.
Some of the redundancies – especially in export-oriented sectors – are the result of the 39-percent tariffs that the United States had imposed on Swiss imports (but which will be lowered to 15 percent at the yet undefined time).
Other dismissals, at UN agencies and NGOs in Geneva, are driven by US withdrawing funds for international organisations.
READ ALSO: How many jobs are set to be lost in Switzerland in 2026?
But does this mean that Switzerland’s employment market will continue to be sluggish and jobs will dry up in 2026?
Economists and job recruiters say not.
For instance, according to KOF Economic Institute, “despite the rise in unemployment [in 2025], key indicators continue to point to a solid labour market.”
That is because “labour shortage remains relatively high in almost all sectors and the same applies to the number of job vacancies.”
Experts at Economiesuisse, the umbrella organisation for the Swiss business sector, also say that the subdued economic outlook should not have too great an impact on the Swiss labour market.
Despite job cuts in many companies, numerous new jobs will also be created, they say.
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US to the rescue?
This may sound like an obvious paradox (since many jobs have been, and will be, lost in Switzerland due to US policies), but Rahul Sahgal, president of the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce, said that significant investment commitments from Swiss companies in the United States (to the tune of $200 billion by 2028) are having a positive impact on the Swiss labour market.
“American investments help maintain or create jobs in Switzerland,” Sahgal pointed out. “As a general rule, three to five new jobs created in the United States are equivalent to one new job created in Switzerland.
Which sectors will seek new employees in 2026?
According to Indeed recruitment agency, demand for workers will continue to be high in healthcare, IT and digital technologies, construction, as well as high-tech sectors such as health technology, aerospace, and biotechnology.
Positions will also be open in accounting, finance, and auditing.
And information gathered from experts on LinkedIn points to job openings in the future-oriented sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, data, cybersecurity, as well as renewable energies, building renovation, mobility, and circular economy.
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Will Swiss companies still hire foreigners in 2026?
There is no indication that the same hiring practices will not continue.
Citizens of the EU and EFTA (Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein) will continue to have the same access to jobs as Swiss nationals.
As for citizens of third countries, the Federal Council has maintained the same number of work permit quotas for them as in previous years; as they are based on the needs of the labour market, it is a sign that the demand for skilled workers will not suddenly diminish in 2026.
READ ALSO: Swiss government sets 2026 permit quotas for non-EU nationals
